Crews Work to Clear Snowy Roads

County and state crews across Nebraska were working to keep roads open Wednesday - fighting against heavy snowfall and gusty winds.

But, officials say it's a part of winter, and they tackle the first big snowfall just like they do any other.

Adams County road crews prepared for the first big snow of the season by converting dirt haulers into snow movers.

"[We] put the signs on the back about staying back, blowing snow and then also get them loaded with salt/sand; and go through all the systems, be sure they're ready to do," said Dawn Miller, Adams County highway superintendent.

Miller didn't send plows out until the mid-afternoon Wednesday. Their goal was to keep roads passable for folks heading home.

"We'd like to be sure we work long enough to get everybody home from work itself, not from shopping for Christmas, but from work itself," said Miller. "Then from there we'll shut down for the evening and start early in the morning."

Allen Horak and the Nebraska Department of Roads are keeping an eye on Interstate 80 and state highways. They had trucks out early Wednesday to try to keep I-80 open.

"[We'll] run trucks 24/7 or what's needed," said Horak. "The expressway, Highway 281, from Hastings up to [Grand Island] we run 24/7."

Horak said they also plan to keep plows on Highways 30 and 34 until about midnight. But, keeping ahead of steady snowfall isn't easy.

He said they too will be opening highways for morning commuters, but warns drivers to still take care.

"Watch for our trucks, and anybody else out there because I'm sure with the blowing snow the snow is going to blow up behind our trucks and any other trucks; so visibility is going to be probably at zero," he said.

Road Conditions at 9:00 p.m. Wednesday:

Parts of Interstate 80 are closed in several places, including Ogallala and Kearney.Highway 83 near McCook is closed in both directions.

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